Endocannabinoid System as Novel Therapeutic Target for Autism Treatment

Abstract

Several interventions have been developed to address social functioning impairments among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This review evaluated the variety of interventions and outcomes from 59 studies published between 1990 and 2010. Over 80 discrete outcomes were used across the 59 studies, and varied from informal self-report measures to standardized test scores. The types of interventions used were similarly diverse, with the majority (74.6%) using a combination of multiple interventions. Although there is not a standard assessment or intervention that can be recommended to improve social skills, key domains have been identified, which can inform the development of appropriate assessments and interventions to improve the social behaviors of children with ASD.